Has there ever been a more remarkable Formula 1 qualifying session than today’s in Hungary? I missed it live, but catching up online, it’s almost unreal.

First and foremost, let’s hope that Felipe Massa has a rapid recovery. He crashed following being hit by a spring from Rubens Barrichello’s car, and has since successfully undergone surgery for a damaged skull and brain concussion. The BBC has incredible on-board footage of the incident.

That delayed the start of the final qualifying session, which finished without any sort of timing data being available. So no-one knew who had pole, and Fernando Alonso ended up walking up to all the drivers and comparing his time with theirs. Just bizarre. And, again, available to watch online, thanks to the tremendous BBC.

Anyway, Alonso is on pole, albeit in a very light car. Behind him are the two sensibly fuelled Red Bull Racing cars, one of which seems likely to win. Mind you, Lewis Hamilton is 4th on the grid and armed with KERS, so he could well be in with a shout. Though he’s mainly thrown away the decent chances he’s had so far this season, so we’ll see.

Jenson Button in 8th has the heaviest car on the grid, so maybe he knows something we don’t. But probably not, because the team spent most of the final session checking his car following Barrichello’s incident. Is this the championship slipping away from him?

Jaime Alguersuari became the youngest person to qualify for a Formula 1 race, but inevitably in last place. He had a problem with his car, so perhaps 0.4s off Robert Kubica in 19th wasn’t too bad. Sebastien Buemi, in the other Toro Rosso, qualified a decent 11th, so Alguersuari can at least be confident that he’s got an improved car.

Let’s not forget about MotoGP qualifying at Donington Park. It’s Valentino Rossi on pole, with that little Dani Pedrosa guy behind him. Having recovered from his injuries, Pedrosa really is back on form, isn’t he? Worryingly, I don’t mind. Maybe I’m warming to him.

James Toseland is down in 9th, which doesn’t seem too bad until you realise that his team-mate, Colin Edwards, is 6th. Oh dear. Still, better news for the home riders in 125cc, where Bradley Smith is on pole. A British winner in Britain two years in a row? That would be nice.